Posted on 06/04/2022 3:58:49 AM PDT by MtnClimber
Should China occupy Taiwan, it would control a majority of the world's microchip manufacturing production. But China needn't invade Taiwan to bring America to its knees — simply reducing urea and other existing Chinese exports is already wreaking havoc. Agricultural fertilizer prices have nearly doubled in the past year, and shrinking supplies of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) now threaten America's transportation system. The impact of urea supply shortages on food inflation will be compounded by distribution failures if additional DEF resources are not procured immediately.
DEF is an emissions control liquid required by the EPA in diesel engines manufactured after 2010 as an "aftertreatment technology" to reduce vehicle emissions. This additive is required for most modern diesel truck fleets. Without it, many trucks cannot exceed five miles per hour in speed, or even be started. Truckers are now reporting increasing DEF shortages around the nation.
EPA mandates for DEF in diesel engines were not matched by increases in DEF production, and China cut back DEF manufacturing last year, leading to the current threat:
Commercial motor vehicles that move commodities across the US utilize approximately 37.6 million tons of DEF and we are experiencing a global shortage. ... China's increased demand for urea in farming caused it to cut production of DEF fluid. ... [For] about every 200 gallons of diesel used you will use about 1 gallon of DEF. The mandate for DEF began in 2010, so the average age of vehicles on the road utilizing the commodity is growing. The older vehicles are less efficient at burning fuel and therefore require more DEF. More and more vehicles that are lawfully required to use DEF continue to hit the market with no more manufacturing taking place in the DEF supply chain.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
I know a number of folks here at FR are “self sufficient” in a lot of ways, and would be able to provide themselves with food and other necessities should the trucks stop rolling. At 70, it would be a steep learning curve for the wife and I....but it’s been on our minds increasingly.
Do you know about my prepping and self sufficiency library? https://permasteader.route66custom.com/cloud/index.php/s/2ieKHJxFzADHRb6
Everything in the library is downloadable.
Also lots of links and info on my profile page, including links to library by subject. https://freerepublic.com/~pollard/
Thank you!
Re: Urea. Never drink downstream from the herd!
Rising food and fuel prices with depression level unemployment in 3, 2, 1 . . .
“Change a couple of parameters in the on-board computers of these vehicles and DEF won’t be required.”
*****
Wrong. The manufacturers rolled out some modifications earlier for certain sensors that were on months long back order, but not the whole system.
The manufactures would have to roll out a workaround, not just deleting the def system (illegal), just temporarily disabling it.
Only dealerships could do it. The dealerships are backed up on repairs now, can you imagine if every truck needed to get in there?
Then you are going to get them all back in at some point to re-enable the after market treatment?
Logistical nightmare, can’t be done. Better make the DEF fluid.
They are hoping the coming depression will slow consumption and price increases, so less goods moving, smaller economy, less trucks on the road, less def fluid.
Just two years of a radical marxist child sniffing clown is about to bring down western civilization.
Thanks, I was hoping to get some details. The part about it being illegal is self-imposed, so I don’t consider that a negative factor...since it can simply be self-unimposed. Requiring it to be done at dealerships also doesn’t hold water, as I’m sure any decent mechanic at a truck stop can do whatever a dealer can do, if trained on it.
But yes, a big impact, but probably small compared to the cost of doing nothing, and I agree, simply find a way to make our own DEF, rather than outsourcing every damn thing.
U.S,chip makers moved over seas in the 1980s because of EPA regulations…a lot of chemicals are involved…emissions of gas into the atmosphere
Perfect example of why I bought a ‘99 Pete with a Cat engine - no DEF, no emissions anything, and no ELD!!
Plus it gets better fuel mileage without the emissions crap, and has more power. The engine lasts longer because it doesn’t run so hot. (200-300 degrees cooler behind the turbo.)
If trucking firms would stop letting the ATA dictate US FMCSA regulations and work around them, this wouldn’t be an issue. You can thank the big carriers like Swift, England, Werner, etc for this.
Good luck with that.
As long as libs hold the levels of regulatory power – for which there is NO end in sight, not even the beginning of the beginning of the end — this is a pipe dream.
What do we export?
**********
MONEY
What do we export?
**********
MONEY
true
“But yes, a big impact, but probably small compared to the cost of doing nothing, and I agree, simply find a way to make our own DEF, rather than outsourcing every damn thing.”
*****
The bed’s made, all that’s left to do is lie in it.
Only dealers have the complete software package. In fact, usually it’s only dealers that have the software package at all.
Also, when guys delete their def systems, which is illegal, that’s a permanent alteration. They have to make changes to the turbo chargers, or the turbos will burn out.
Any manufacturer designed “temporary” deletion would have to make similar changes to the turbo. Turbo’s cost anywhere from 5 to 10K.
So, even if the manufactures were to come up with a temporary workaround, and even if you could overcome the logistical problem of getting over a million trucks in and out of the dealers and back on the road (LOL!), who would pay for it? Cost would be at least 10 to 15K per truck. That’s 10 Billion minimum to temporarily disable then re-enable.
Is Biden going to pay 10 Billion to have a million trucks fouling up the air for 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, 5 years, who knows how long?
You get into a kinetic war with China and Russia, you think they are going to still ship you urea so that you can fertilize your crops and run your trucks?
What they are going to do is dehydrated food. Makes the most sense, I’d be surprised if they were not already gearing up the manufacturing facilities.
You send each American whatever weight you decide a person needs on a monthly basis in dehydrated calories and nutrition. That ensures the depression is survivable. Whatever other food they can come across and afford, like a monthly visit to the sole Taco Bell left in the city, will supplement the government gruel.
As far as the rest of the stuff delivered on trucks, we will just do without or buy used.
Latest possible time frame for, “OMG Deprission 2.0,” is shortly after midterm elections. They are hanging by a thread now.
“bring America to its knees — simply reducing urea and other existing Chinese exports”
Urea sounds a lot like urine.
“Urea serves an important role in the metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds by animals and is the main nitrogen-containing substance in the urine of mammals.”
I guess we better start peeing into bottles and selling the stuff instead of flushing it down the toilet.
A new business opportunity!
Could help beer sales, as well!
Thanks, didn’t know about the turbos...that one is legit. The part about dealer-only and reversible is still self-inflicted. Nothing stops a Trump-type president/Congress from allowing one-way conversions, and $10B isn’t much considering what we’re looking at.
As it is, we’re both dreaming as the clowns in DC won’t lift a finger to try to solve their mess.
We DID.
Naturally, the government will not consider allowing the disabling of the urea requirement.
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